Tailbone pain might be a lesser-known issue, but if you have it, you know how excruciating it can be. Having an issue with your coccydynia can cause so much pain, you might not even be able to sit in peace.
It can be incredibly frustrating, especially when your doctors can’t seem to find a solution, or even suggest getting invasive surgery to fix it. Fortunately, there are other options that can help significantly.
This article will tell you everything you need to know about pelvic physio and how it can fix your tailbone pain.
Keep reading to learn more.
What Is the Tailbone and Why Am I Experiencing Pain There?
Although the tailbone is very small, it can cause an excruciating amount of pain. You might experience discomfort or even tailbone spasms when you sit, have sex, exercise, or even have bowel movements.
If you’re experiencing this, you most likely have coccydynia (tailbone pain). The tailbone, which is usually referred to as the coccyx, is a triangle-shaped bone located at the very end of the spine.
It serves an important role as it attaches to bones, ligaments, and muscles along the hips, lower back, and pelvis. Because of its central location, it plays an important role when it comes to the mobility of your lower extremities and the stability of your core.
There are several reasons why you might be experiencing tailbone pain. It might be because of a traumatic or nontraumatic incident. Although it can happen because of a fall or injury, many people have no idea why they begin experiencing coccydynia.
Some non-traumatic injuries that could cause it include:
- Sitting in a hard chair for a long time
- Hyper or hypomobility
- Degenerative joint disease
- Overactive pelvic floor muscles
Traumatic instances that could bruise, break, or dislocate the tailbone include:
- Car accidents
- Pregnancy
- Childbirth
- Traumatic injury
- Falling backward
- Horseback riding
The good news is, no matter how you hurt your tailbone, it can be treated.
How Can Pelvic Physio Help My Pain?
Your tailbone is no different than other parts of the body that can be treated by physiotherapy. For example, if your knee hurts every single time you move around, it probably means your knee muscles are tight and your joints are stiff.
The same goes for the joints and muscles that surround your coccyx. You likely have an imbalance between your hips, pelvis, abdominals, back, and thigh muscles, all of which contribute to your tailbone pain.
Finding someone who specializes in pelvic floor physiotherapy can help you treat it. They have deep knowledge of how the muscles and joints work together in your body.
They utilize gentle techniques such as:
- Myofascial mobilization
- Trigger point release
- Dry needling
- Postural correction
- Visceral mobilization
- Joint mobilization
- Myofascial stretching
- Pelvic floor release techniques
A good physiotherapist will know how to get to the root of your pain. Finding one that you can trust and be open with will allow them to come up with a strategy that can relieve your pain and help you build a strong pelvic floor.
They will often prescribe exercises and treatments that are both external and internal. Some treatments happen either vaginally or rectally as well. Although this might be daunting, it can make a huge difference in your pain.
If you’re looking for the best physiotherapists in Brampton, look no further.
What Will My First Visit Be Like?
It’s understandable that you might be nervous on your first visit to a physiotherapist, so let’s see what a first visit might look like.
First, they’ll speak with you to get a thorough history of your tailbone pain. Next, they’ll do a full musculoskeletal and movement screen to see what other factors might be contributing to your pain. This can include:
- Analyzing posture
- Palpating muscles
- Assessing mobility and strength
In certain situations, they might want to take an internal assessment to check your tailbone’s alignment. They can also get a fuller picture of the surrounding structures of your pelvis, including ligaments, muscles, and nerves.
Internal examinations are mostly optional, so if you’re not comfortable with them, don’t worry. However, it can give them a better picture of what’s causing your pain.
What Treatments Will My Physical Therapist Prescribe?
Depending on what they find in their initial examinations, they will come up with different therapeutic exercises to help you. Some might include:
- Realignment of the pelvis, coccyx, and SI joint
- Mobilizations to help the tailbone gently
- Manual therapy like myofascial release or soft tissue work, both internally and externally
- Stretches to help relax and strengthen the back muscles, hip muscles, and pelvic floor
- Exercises for core and hip strengthening
- Pain relief strategies for everyday life, like using ice and heat or sitting on cushions
Over time, these treatments can help strengthen and relax your muscles and joints and give you sustainable relief.
Extra Tips For Dealing With Coccydynia
Until you schedule your appointment with your local Brampton pelvic physiotherapy specialist, here are a few more tips to help you deal with tailbone pain.
First, always be aware of your posture and try to pinpoint what positions hurt your tailbone. It could be when you look down at your phone or when you twist in a certain way.
Try to use a cushion whenever sitting, like one that is donut-shaped with a hole in the middle. If you sit for long periods of time, make sure to take breaks as often as possible.
Try to manage constipation and hard stools by eating lots of fiber. Hard stools can aggravate the tailbone.
Avoid activities that put a lot of pressure on your tailbone. This can include things like bicycle riding, horseback riding, squats, and lunges, or gardening.
Relieve Your Pain With Pelvic Physio Today!
Now that you know how pelvic physio can help fix your tailbone pain without any invasive procedures, the next step is to find a trustworthy partner to help you on your recovery journey.
If you’re looking for physiotherapy in Brampton, check out Reform Physiotherapy. Our therapists are passionate about providing quality care to people of all ages so that they can live a better quality of life.
Reach out to us today!